I got hurt and annoyed when neighbors my age sarcastically screamed and call a gay person and make fun of them.

I am a straight and decent acting gay but do not publicly announce my sexuality in any form and keep it private though I am open about it with my intimate, polite and respectable friends.

Sadly, it’s the publicly open and exhibitionist gays and transgenders who put down straight-acting gays and lesbians because they want all gays to be like them-screaming, vulgar, judgmental and reflects the absence of education and decency.

Not all gay men, for the record, want to dress up like a woman, put on make-up, seek attention or flirt like a cheap prostitute or appear tasteless in lunchtime transgender TV contests.

They are stereotyping unintelligent endeavors that even demean transgenders and gay men. Yes, most people look at transgenders as caricature of straight men and that is because of trans themselves, they who seem unreal and forgive the word, fake.

To most, trans merely copy and exaggerate the original. In the end, they look like clowns. Alright, they maybe true to themselves, but why do they have to push so aggressively and loudly? It becomes a turn-off.

Once I talked to my mother who told me that if I am indeed gay, I make sure to be respectful and be respected as a human being and not join the passing trend of young people to steal attention, or join the bandwagon.

I am not like that at all. I may be gay because I am sexually attracted to men but only that. I want to do what people would label manly things. I respect men my age who respect me, appreciate me when we group study together or in class or outdoors. Anything we do for the sake of improving our characters and giving positive contribution to society.

I am not against transgending and cross-gending people. They have the right to do and be what they want but hope they act appropriately and not offend the sensibility and respect others.

When trans candidates on TV or in public places screamed and seek attention, why should they expect to be respected and taken seriously?

When I become professional, I want my family to be proud of me, openly or discreetly gay. I also wish my friends who pretend to be liberal about my gayness but do not truly see’s me as a man who endeavors to be a good and useful person.

I wear an ordinary man’s outfit and act like a man. I want society to know that being gay should not be boxed with transgender, bisexual or any so-called sexual inventions or alibis by egoistic influencers who don’t really know much.

Caraga News Courier, the online partner of Mindanao News Courier, is a web-based news and information portal, based in Caraga Region. Bringing fresh perspectives and observations to the podium of public discourse.

Caraga News Courier prides itself to be the bearer of balanced and unbiased news and information, to keep Caraganons, near and far, attuned with the events taking place in the region.